Tiburon is an affluent
incorporated town in
Marin County, California. It occupies most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the
San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of
Belvedere (formerly a separate island) occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon. Tiburon is bordered by
Corte Madera to the north and
Mill Valley to the west, but is otherwise surrounded by the Bay.
The city's name comes from the Spanish word tiburón, which means "shark." Tiburon was formerly the southern terminus of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. This railroad carried freight, mostly lumber, to the town for transfer to barges for shipping to cities around San Francisco Bay. It is now a commuter and tourist town, linked by fast ferry services to San Francisco and with a concentration of restaurants and clothes shops. It is the nearest mainland point to Angel Island and a regular ferry service connects to the island.
The former railroad right of way now forms part of the San Francisco Bay Trail, used by hikers and cyclists. Within the Tiburon town limits, the rail trail passes through the Richardson Bay Park and next to the Audubon Society's Richardson Bay Sanctuary. These provide excellent opportunities for observing wildlife.
Tiburon is located at 37°53'24?N, 122°27'59?W (37.889880, -122.466421)[1].
